Warburg’s research was into oxygen vs. fermentation, as a source of cellular energy.

Techniques should be devised for both terminating fermentation in cancer tissue and transporting more oxygen to it.(See David W. Gregg in Main Hall)

Working Summary: Although anticipated ten years earlier by Koch, Warburg’s theory of cancer was monumental, and resulted in major advances in alternate cancer treatment later in the century.

Dr. Warburg won the Nobel prize in physiology and medicine in 1931 for his discovery of a respiratory enzyme. One of his most controversial theories concerned the nature of cancer cell metabolism, that is, the way in which cells obtained their energy.

Warburg was the only person to ever win the Nobel prize twice in his own field. (One of the only other persons to win the Nobel prize twice, Linus Pauling, also did research into alternate cancer therapy and is discussed later in this book.)

Normally, human cells obtain their energy through respiration. Each of the vast millions of cells in the body takes in oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide and water. This is a complex, but highly efficient, way of generating energy.

But there is another, far more primitive and wasteful way of generating energy: fermentation. Simple life forms, such as bacteria, use this method. This is why milk sours and yeast makes bread to rise.

But there are times when our human cells also use fermentation to produce energy. One occurs when the muscles or brain require a quick burst of energy.

Another occurrence—and this is the heart of his theory—is when cancer cells begin functioning.According to Warburg, all cancer cells live by fermenting sugar in what are essentially “airless”(called “anaerobic”) reactions.

Warburg maintained that if a person could find a way to stop this fermentation, he could stop the cancer.He developed this theory in 1930, a year before he received the Nobel prize for different research.

Other scientists have since proven that cancer becomes more resistant to therapy as the tumor mass becomes more acidic and anaerobic.Warburg’s theories provided the foundation for ozone and hydrogen peroxide therapies,which are given intravenously, orally, and rectally.

While the efficacy of these therapies is controversial, experts caution against drinking hydrogen peroxide, since it is such a potent freeradical generator.

You will recall that, 10 years before Warburg’s theory, Koch began using Glyoxylide, an oxygen catalyst, in his work.Later, we will learn about the research work of Joseph Gold who, in 1968, published a paper on oxygen therapy. Revici also used oxygen injections.

The use of hydrogen peroxide is based on it. Gerson therapy touches base with it also.

Note that Warburg developed a landmark cancer theory, but did not, as far as we know, give clinical treatments based on it.

SUPPLEMENT: OXYGEN THERAPY

Oxygen was discovered by Joseph Priestly in 1771. Hydrogen peroxide was discovered by Louise Jacques Thenard in 1818, and ozone was discovered by Christian Schonbein in 1840. The first hyperbaric operating room was made as early as 1879 by a French physician, Dr. J.A. Fontaine.Over a hundred years ago, physicians began treating diseases with oxygen. Oxygen therapy refers to a wide range of therapies utilizing oxygen in various forms, to promote healing and destroy pathogens in the body.

Earlier in this book, we learned that Frederich Koch, M.D., advocated oral hydrogen peroxide for cancer patients as early as 1924.

In 1930, Otto Warburg, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Cell Physiology in Germany and a two-time Nobel Laureate, proposed that a lack of oxygen at the cellular level may be the prime cause of cancer, and that oxygen therapy could be an effective treatment for it.

Later we will learn of others who used various forms of oxygen therapy—especially the research work of Edward Rosenow, M.D., with hydrogen peroxide, and Dr. Sweet with ozone, as well as the use of hyperbaric oxygen.

There are two forms of oxygen therapy: oxygenation therapy and oxidation therapy.

All human cells, tissues, and organs require oxygen. Oxygenation saturates the body with oxygen through the use of gas, sometimes at high pressure (hyperbaric). Oxygen can be administered in many ways (orally, rectally, vaginally, and intravenously through inhalation or absorption through the skin.

Oxidation therapy enables electrons to be transferred from one molecule to another. Oxidation therapy helps the body eliminate toxins.It also selectively destroys pathogenic (disease-producing) bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances. For example, if hydrogen peroxide is placed on a surface wound, the normal cells thrive while the pathogens die.

Oxidation therapy must be given under clinical supervision, since uncontrolled oxidation is destructive to the body. It may be given intravenously,orally, rectally by enema, vaginally, or absorbed through the skin. Hydrogen peroxide therapy will be discussed in more detail later in this book.

Ozone therapy uses both oxidation as well as oxygenation.(For more on oxygen therapy in its various forms, see pages 53-55, 103-105.)